GERMANY
Their first performance was on the ferry crossing from Rosslare to Cherbourg where the group performed the afternoon show.
On arrival in Frankfurt another performance followed by a Ceili was organised. Hundreds of people filed into the Knights Hall to be part of this 'session' where Ceoltoiri Kilkenny were joined by musicians from Frankfurt and dancers from Wurzburg. This was an evening to remember. From then on the trip became more than a trip to promote our Irish Culture and traditions. We got an insight into the culture, lifestyles and history of Germany and its people. We made many friends and saw the enthusiasm there is to listen to and appreciate our Irish music, song and dance.
Trips were organised to the Marksburg Castle - the only undestroyed castle on the rhine. We were taken to see the statue of the Kaiser in Koblenz. We played sessions in Irish bars in Frankfurt and Koblenz.
We then travelled sourth to Wurzburg where another show and ceili was organised. Playing our National Anthem on occasions like this made us very proud to be Irish. We visited the castle in Heidelberg and played in Ludwigshafen before moving north to Warendorf. There, members of the Irish/German Friendship Circle accommodated us in their homes. Another show and Ceili in a hall packed to capacity was followed by another session. We saw their renowned Sportschool and the German National Stud before ending our trip with a visit to the neighbouring town of Munster.
In October 1994 the group returned to Germany as part of a wider tour which also took them to Luxembourg and France.
This time we began north of Hanover in a town called 'Schnega' where a tremendous welcome awaited us in the Town Hall. Our accommodation was in Proitzer Muhle, a heritage centre closeby where the session continued throughout the night. We then headed south to Wurzburg for an Irish Halloween where another concert was organised and where we once again received a tremendous welcome. A tour was organised in this historic city. Many German musicians joined with Ceoltoiri Kilkenny for a session in 'Shannons Irish Pub', where 30 musicians in total played Irish music all night. Next we moved to Koblenz where we played in 'The Irish Pub' during our stay.
The group have many happy meories of Germany and its people and have made many friends there.
